Frequency specific closed loop feedback control of integrated circuits

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for frequency specific closed loop feedback control of integrated circuits. In one embodiment, a plurality of controllable inputs to an integrated circuit is adjusted to achieve a frequency specific predetermined value of a dynamic operating indicator of the integrated circuit at the desired specific operating frequency. The predetermined value is stored in a data structure within a computer usable media. The data structure comprises a plurality of frequency specific predetermined values for a variety of operating frequencies. An operating condition of an integrated circuit is controlled via closed loop feedback based on dynamic operating indicators of the measured behavior of the integrated circuit.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a divisional application and claims benefit ofcommonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/956,217, filed Sep.30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,978, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

This application is a continuation in part of commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/124,152, filed Apr. 16, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.6,882,172, entitled “System and Method for Measuring Transistor LeakageCurrent with a Ring Oscillator” to Suzuki and Burr, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This application is a continuation in part of commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/672,793, filed Sep. 26, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.6,885,210, entitled “A System and Method for Measuring TransistorLeakage Current with a Ring Oscillator with Backbias Controls” toSuzuki, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

This application is a continuation in part of co-pending, commonly ownedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,918, filed Dec. 31, 2002,entitled “Adaptive Power Control” to Burr et al., which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to systemsand methods for frequency specific closed loop feedback control ofintegrated circuits.

BACKGROUND

In order to operate an integrated circuit, e.g., a microprocessor, in anefficient manner, for example, to consume a low amount of energy toaccomplish a task, it is known to adjust various controlling parameters.These parameters may include an operating voltage that can be adjustedto a value characteristic of an advantageous power condition inaccordance with the task to be accomplished. For example, an operatingvoltage is set to a minimized value consistent with a desired frequencyof operation. In the conventional art, such operating points aredetermined in an open loop manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, systems and methods for frequency specific closed loopfeedback control of integrated circuits are highly desired.

Accordingly, systems and methods for frequency specific closed loopfeedback control of integrated circuits are disclosed. In oneembodiment, a plurality of controllable inputs to an integrated circuitis adjusted to achieve a frequency specific predetermined value of adynamic operating indicator of the integrated circuit at the desiredspecific operating frequency. The predetermined value is stored in adata structure within a computer usable media. The data structurecomprises a plurality of frequency specific predetermined values for avariety of operating frequencies. An operating condition of anintegrated circuit is controlled via closed loop feedback based ondynamic operating indicators of the measured behavior of the integratedcircuit.

In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, aplurality of controllable input values to an integrated circuit isdetermined that achieves a desirably low power operating condition ofthe integrated circuit for a given operating frequency.

In accordance with yet other embodiments of the present invention, adynamic operating condition of an integrated circuit is measured for aspecific operating frequency at controllable input values that achievean advantageous low power operating condition of the integrated circuit.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the integratedcircuit is a microprocessor capable of operating at various frequenciesand voltages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a microprocessor comprising dynamic conditionreporting registers, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of operating an integrated circuit, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary application of portions of amethod of operating an integrated circuit, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a microprocessor, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a data structure stored in a computer readable media,in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the present invention, systemand method for frequency specific closed loop feedback control ofintegrated circuits, numerous specific details are set forth in order toprovide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, itwill be recognized by one skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details or with equivalentsthereof. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components,and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the present invention.

Notation and Nomenclature

Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow (e.g., process200) are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks,processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on databits that can be performed on computer memory. These descriptions andrepresentations are the means used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their workto others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed step, logicblock, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be aself-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desiredresult. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physicalquantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take theform of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computersystem. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons ofcommon usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements,symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention,discussions utilizing terms such as “storing” or “dividing” or“computing” or “testing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “storing”or “measuring” or “adjusting” or “generating” or “performing” or“comparing” or “synchronizing” or “accessing.” or “retrieving.” or“conveying” or “sending” or “resuming” or “installing” or “gathering” orthe like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, orsimilar electronic computing device” that manipulates and transformsdata represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computersystem's registers and memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computer system memories or registers orother such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Frequency Specific Closed Loop Feedback Control of Integrated Circuits

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are described inthe context of design and operation of integrated semiconductors. Moreparticularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems andmethods for frequency specific closed loop feedback control ofintegrated circuits. It is appreciated, however, that elements of thepresent invention may be utilized in other areas of semiconductoroperation.

Several operational indicators of an integrated circuit, e.g., amicroprocessor, can be measured dynamically, e.g., in-situ while theintegrated circuit is in operation. For example, the operatingtemperature of the integrated circuit can be measured. Such measurementscan be external, e.g., via an applied thermocouple, or they can be madeinternally, e.g., via on-chip measurement circuits.

A wide variety of integrated circuit characteristics can be measured ordetermined, either directly or inferred from other characteristics,while the device is operating. For example, in addition to temperature,other characteristics such as gate delays, metal delays, leakagecurrent, “on” current, relative behavior of NMOS and PMOS devices,maximum frequency and the like can be measured or determined for theinstant operating conditions of an integrated circuit. Co-pending,commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/124,152, filed Apr.16, 2002, entitled “System and Method for Measuring Transistor LeakageCurrent with a Ring Oscillator” and incorporated by reference herein,provides exemplary systems and methods of such dynamic determinations,or dynamic operating indicators, that are well suited to embodiments inaccordance with the present invention.

Such measurements or indications are typically made available, e.g., tostate machines and/or processor control software, via registers. Suchregister values frequently comprise a count of a number of events, e.g.,oscillations of a ring oscillator in a given time interval. For thepurpose of illustrating embodiments in accordance with the presentinvention, a model of a register reporting a value that is correlated toan operating characteristic of an integrated circuit is employed. It isto be appreciated, however, that embodiments in accordance with thepresent invention are well suited to a variety of systems and methods ofdetermining and reporting dynamic operating conditions of an integratedcircuit.

FIG. 1 illustrates a microprocessor 100 comprising dynamic conditionreporting registers, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Dynamic condition reporting registers R1 101, R2 102 and R3103 each indicate a dynamic condition metric of microprocessor 100. Forexample, generally each dynamic condition reporting register isassociated with a dynamic condition measuring circuit either as a partof the integrated circuit or external to the integrated circuit.

Conversion of a measured quantity, e.g., oscillations of a ringoscillator, into a usable metric related to the measured quantity, e.g.,a frequency measurement, e.g., in hertz, or a count of oscillations perunit time, can be embodied in either software or hardware, and all suchembodiments are to be considered within the scope of the presentinvention. For example, logic circuitry can increment a countingregister for each oscillation for a period of time. Alternatively, forexample, a software timing loop, with or without hardware timingassistance, can count a number of oscillations per unit time. Inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention, dynamic conditionreporting registers, e.g., dynamic condition reporting registers R1 101,R2 102 and R3 103, can refer to any memory location utilized to storesuch indications of a dynamic condition.

As operating conditions of microprocessor 100 change, values reported bydynamic condition reporting registers R1 101, R2 102 and R3 103 willgenerally change. For example, operating voltage and operatingtemperature are strong influences on a maximum operating frequencyachievable by an integrated circuit. As operating voltage and/oroperating temperature vary, so too in general will the values reportedby dynamic condition reporting registers R1 101, R2 102 and R3 103.

For example, dynamic condition reporting register R1 101 can indicate anumber of oscillations per time of a ring oscillator comprisingcomplementary metal oxide inverter gates. Such a circuit can be utilizedto indicate gate delays for the microprocessor at the instant operatingconditions, e.g., operating temperature, operating voltage and the like.Similarly, other dynamic condition reporting registers can indicateother operational characteristics of microprocessor 100. For example,device leakage, gate leakage, temperature, metal delays, “on” current,behavior of n type and p type devices and/or relative behavior of n typeand p type devices can be reported by dynamic condition reportingregisters.

Most useful dynamic conditions indications will have a correlation withmaximum achievable operating frequency of an integrated circuit at thoseoperating conditions. For example, an indication of operatingtemperature will generally have a negative correlation with maximumachievable operating frequency. For example, as operating temperatureincreases, maximum achievable operating frequency decreases. Otherdynamic condition indications may have a positive correlation withmaximum achievable operating frequency. For example, the number ofoscillations of a ring oscillator per unit time will generally increaseas maximum achievable operating frequency of an integrated circuitincreases.

Such correlations among dynamic conditions and maximum achievableoperating frequency can be utilized in a system of closed loop feedbackinvolving the condition registers, to optimize power consumption foroperating an integrated circuit at a particular frequency.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process 200 of operating an integrated circuit, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. In optional block210, a plurality of controllable input values to an integrated circuitis determined that achieves a desired power operating condition of theintegrated circuit for a desired operating frequency. Such a desiredoperating frequency is usually one of a plurality of operatingfrequencies at which the integrated circuit is intended to operate. Inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the conditionis a desired low power operating condition. Exemplary controllableinputs to an integrated circuit can include, for example, operatingvoltage, a body biasing voltage applied to NMOS devices and/or a bodybiasing voltage applied to PMOS devices.

For example, an integrated circuit tester can run test vectors againstan integrated circuit at a particular operating frequency for a fixedoperating temperature. Controllable inputs to the integrated circuit,e.g., operating voltage and/or body biasing voltages, can be adjusted todecrease power consumption of the integrated circuit consistent withproper operation at the particular operating frequency. Powerconsumption of the integrated circuit should be minimized consistentwith proper operation at the particular operating frequency.

In optional block 220, a dynamic operating indicator of the integratedcircuit is observed for the specific operating frequency at thecontrollable input values determined in block 210. For example, adynamic condition reporting register value corresponding to a ringoscillator can be read, either by an integrated circuit tester or undersoftware control. It is to be appreciated that such dynamic operatingconditions are generally determined in digital form, e.g., as a count ofevents. However, embodiments in accordance with the present inventionare well suited to the use of analog condition reporting, e.g., acondition expressed as a voltage or charge stored on a floating gate.Blocks 210 and 220 can optionally be repeated for a plurality ofdifferent operating frequencies.

In optional block 230, the dynamic operating indicator value is storedto a first computer usable media. Such a dynamic operating conditionvalue is well suited to a wide variety of storing methods and media. Forexample, such a value can be stored in non-volatile memory of theintegrated circuit, in non-volatile memory of an integrated circuitpackage, or on media separate from the integrated circuit, e.g., on aseparate non-volatile memory integrated circuit or in a computer systemdatabase. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, theindicator may be stored in a register of a microprocessor.

In block 235, a desired operating frequency for the integrated circuitis accessed. There are a variety of well known techniques fordetermining such a desirable operating frequency.

In optional block 240, the frequency specific predetermined dynamicoperating indicator value is accessed from a second computer usablemedia. The frequency specific predetermined dynamic operating indicatorvalue corresponds to the desired operating frequency accessed in block235. It is to be appreciated that the first and second computer usablemedia can be the same media. Alternatively, the first and secondcomputer usable media can be separate media. Embodiments in accordancewith the present invention are well suited to utilizing a wide varietyof media and techniques known to the data processing arts to transferinformation of the dynamic operating condition between the first andsecond computer usable media.

In block 250, a plurality of controllable inputs to an integratedcircuit is adjusted to achieve the predetermined value of a dynamicoperating indicator of the integrated circuit. It is to be appreciatedthat, in general, each controllable input can be adjusted independentlyof other such controllable inputs. In some cases, a range ofcontrollable input values, e.g., a body bias voltage, can be influencedby another controllable input value, e.g., operating voltage.

In block 255, the integrated circuit is operated at the desiredoperating frequency. In optional block 260, blocks 250 and 255 areperiodically repeated.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, thepredetermined dynamic operating condition can be determined for aspecific integrated circuit or for a group of integrated circuits, e.g.,those from a common wafer, a production run or by part number.

In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, thepredetermined dynamic operating condition may comprise evaluation of afunction and/or lists of values. Such a function may present a conditionthat the system attempts to have dynamic operating indicators meet. Forexample, it may be desirable to control a combination of dynamicoperating condition values. Referring once again to FIG. 1, thepredetermined dynamic operating condition could be determined as threetimes the value of register R1 101 squared plus 17 times the value ofregister R2 102 plus the value of register R3 103. Other functionsand/or operations, e.g., boundary operations such as MIN and MAX, canfurther be applied to dynamic operating condition values. All suchmanipulations of dynamic operating condition values to form apredetermined dynamic operating condition are well suited to embodimentsin accordance with the present invention.

In this novel manner, an operating condition of an integrated circuit,e.g., power consumption of a microprocessor, can be advantageouslycontrolled via closed loop feedback based on dynamic operatingindicators of the integrated circuit's behavior for a desired operatingfrequency. Under the conventional art, controllable inputs to anintegrated circuit, e.g., operating voltage, were based on open loopmethods that provided, for example, a recommended operating voltage fora given operating frequency and temperature.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary application of portions ofprocess 200, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.Computer system 300 comprises microprocessor 100. Microprocessor 100comprises dynamic condition reporting register R1 101. Dynamic conditionreporting register R1 101 indicates a dynamic condition metric ofmicroprocessor 100, e.g., a number of oscillations of a ring oscillatorfor a given time period. The time period may be externally measured. Asoperating conditions of microprocessor 100 change, values reported bydynamic condition reporting register R1 101 will generally change. Forthe purposes of the present example, assume that the value reported bydynamic condition reporting register R1 101 is positively correlatedwith maximum achievable operating frequency of microprocessor 100. Forexample, the greater the value in dynamic condition reporting registerR1 101, the faster that microprocessor 100 can run. It is appreciatedthat embodiments in accordance with the present invention are wellsuited to negative correlations between dynamic condition reportingregister values and maximum achievable operating frequency of amicroprocessor.

Computer system 300 further comprises a first variable voltage supply310 to provide an operating voltage to microprocessor 100. Optionally,computer system 300 can comprise a second variable voltage supply 320 toprovide a body biasing voltage to n type devices, e.g., NMOS devices, ofmicroprocessor 100. Similarly, computer system 300 can optionallycomprise a third variable voltage supply 330 to provide a body biasingvoltage to p type devices, e.g., PMOS devices, of microprocessor 100.

Computer system 300 also comprises a memory 340 coupled tomicroprocessor 100 that can be used to store data and programs forexecution on microprocessor 100. Further, computer system 300 comprisesa memory 350 for storing a predetermined value for a dynamic conditionindicator. Memory 350 is well suited to being a part of memory 340,e.g., a location within memory 350.

The predetermined value for a dynamic condition indicator stored inmemory 350, “27000000,” represents a value of dynamic conditionreporting register R1 101 that was previously determined. For example,this value can represent the value of dynamic condition reportingregister R1 101 that corresponds to the lowest power operation ofmicroprocessor 100 at a particular operating frequency, e.g., 500 MHz.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, at a point in time when microprocessor 100 isoperating at 500 MHz, dynamic condition reporting register R1 101reports a value of “45838210.” Controllable inputs to microprocessor100, e.g., operating voltage provided by first variable voltage supply310 and body biasing voltages provided by second and third variablevoltage supplies 320 and 330, are adjusted to achieve the predeterminedvalue for dynamic condition reporting register R1 101, e.g., “27000000.”For example, first variable voltage supply 310 can be commanded toreduce the operating voltage provided to microprocessor 100. It is to beappreciated that any or all controllable inputs can be adjusted in anycombination and/or sequence in order to achieve the predetermined valuefor dynamic condition reporting register R1 101, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, after such adjustments of controllable inputsto microprocessor 100, dynamic condition reporting register R1 101reports a value of “27241467” that is very close to the predeterminedvalue for dynamic condition reporting register R1 101, “27000000.” It isto be appreciated that the actual predetermined value for dynamiccondition reporting register R1 101 may not be achievable for a varietyof reasons, including, for example, an operating temperature differencefor microprocessor 100 between the point when the predetermined valuefor dynamic condition reporting register R1 101 was determined and thepoint in time represented by FIG. 3B.

FIG. 4 illustrates a microprocessor 400, in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention. Microprocessor 400 is configured to operate ata plurality of operating frequencies from a plurality of variablevoltage supplies or controllable inputs, e.g., variable voltage supplies410, 420 and 430. Variable voltage supply 410 provides a variableoperating voltage to microprocessor 400. Variable voltage supply 420provides a variable body biasing voltage to n type devices, e.g., NMOSdevices, of microprocessor 400. Variable voltage supply 430 provides avariable body biasing voltage to p type devices, e.g., PMOS devices, ofmicroprocessor 400.

Microprocessor 400 further comprises a plurality of dynamic operatingindicators for indicating operating conditions of microprocessor 400,e.g., dynamic operating indicator circuits 440, 450, 460, 470, and 480.One or more of dynamic operating indicator circuits 440, 450, 460, 470,and 480 are well suited to the systems and methods taught in co-pending,commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/124,152, filed Apr.16, 2002, entitled “System and Method for Measuring Transistor LeakageCurrent with a Ring Oscillator” and incorporated by reference herein.

Typically such dynamic operating indicator circuits will be situated ina variety of locations throughout a microprocessor integrated circuit. Awide variety of factors, including semiconductor process variationacross an integrated circuit and other well known circuit layoutinfluences, should be utilized to determine where such dynamic operatingindicator circuits. Generally, each dynamic operating indicator circuit,e.g., dynamic operating indicator circuit 440, will have an associateddynamic operating indicator, e.g., register 401. The dynamic operatingindicator 401 presents a measurement of a current integrated circuitoperating characteristic, as measured by a dynamic operating indicatorcircuit, to microprocessor circuitry and/or software in astraightforward manner. It is to be appreciated that a directcorrespondence between dynamic operating indicator circuits and dynamicoperating indicators is exemplary, and that other structures todetermine a current integrated circuit operating characteristic are wellsuited to embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a data structure 500 stored in a computer readablemedia, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Datastructure 500 is well suited to embodiment in a wide variety of computerusable media, including random access memories (RAM), read only memories(ROM), cache memories and storage devices, e.g., flash memory ormagnetic storage.

Data structure 500 comprises a plurality of sets of dynamic operatingindicator values, for example dynamic operating indicator set values510, 520 and 530. Each set or “record” of dynamic operating indicatorvalues comprises values of dynamic operating indicators that achieve adesired power operating condition of the integrated circuit for aspecific operating frequency. Therefore, each record instantiation isspecific for an operating frequency. Alternatively, in accordance withother embodiments of the present invention, a function can providedynamic operating indicator values for a plurality of frequencies.

It is to be appreciated that the dynamic operating indicator values neednot indicate a value in any standard units, e.g., nanoseconds. Rather,the dynamic operating indicator values should correspond to values ofdynamic operating indicators, e.g., registers R1 101, R2 102 and/or R3103 of FIG. 1.

As shown in data structure 500, dynamic operating indicator set 510 is aset of dynamic operating indicator values for an operating frequency of600 MHz. Similarly, dynamic operating indicator set 520 is a set ofdynamic operating indicator values for an operating frequency of 800MHz. Likewise, dynamic operating indicator set 530 is a set of dynamicoperating indicator values for an operating frequency of 1 GHz.

For example, referring once again to FIG. 1, the values of dynamiccondition reporting registers R1 101, R2 102 and R3 103 can be recordedfor a desired power operating condition, e.g., minimum power, ofmicroprocessor 100 at an operating frequency of 600 MHz. Referring backto FIG. 5, such values are stored in memory locations 511, 512 and 513of dynamic operating indicator set 510. In accordance with otherembodiments of the present invention, a function, e.g., f(R1, R2, R3)can be controlled to meet a predetermined condition, e.g., f(R1, R2, R3)equals zero.

Similarly, the values of dynamic condition reporting registers R1 101,R2 102 and R3 103 can be recorded for a desired power operatingcondition, e.g., minimum power, of microprocessor 100 at an operatingfrequency of 800 MHz. Such values are stored in dynamic operatingindicator set 520. Likewise, the values of dynamic condition reportingregisters R1 101, R2 102 and R3 103 can be recorded for a desired poweroperating condition, e.g., minimum power, of microprocessor 100 at anoperating frequency of 1 GHz. Such values are stored in dynamicoperating indicator set 520.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention, systems andmethods for frequency specific closed loop feedback control ofintegrated circuits, are thus described. While the present invention hasbeen described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated thatthe present invention should not be construed as limited by suchembodiments, but rather construed according to the below claims.

1. A method of operating a microprocessor comprising: accessing adesired first operating frequency for said microprocessor; measuring adynamic operating indicator of said microprocessor; adjusting aplurality of controllable inputs to said microprocessor in order forsaid dynamic operating indictor to approach a first predetermined value;and operating said microprocessor at said desired first operatingfrequency and wherein said first predetermined value is obtained from afirst record of a data structure and wherein said first record isspecific to said first operating frequency.
 2. A method as described inclaim 1 further comprising: accessing a desired second operatingfrequency for said microprocessor; measuring said dynamic operatingindicator of said microprocessor; adjusting said plurality ofcontrollable inputs to said microprocessor in order for said dynamicoperating indictor to approach a second predetermined value; andoperating said microprocessor at said desired second operating frequencyand wherein said second predetermined value is obtained from a secondrecord of said data structure and wherein said second record is specificto said second operating frequency.
 3. A method as described in claim 1wherein said data structure comprises a plurality of records, eachrecord being specific for a different operating frequency of saidmicroprocessor.
 4. A method as described in claim 3 wherein each recordcomprises a plurality of predetermined values all specific for anassociated operating frequency of said microprocessor.
 5. A method asdescribed in claim 1 wherein said dynamic operating indicator is a countvalue established over time from a ring oscillator circuit.
 6. A methodas described in claim 5 wherein said dynamic operating indicatorindicates a gate delay of said integrated circuit.
 7. A method asdescribed in claim 5 wherein said dynamic operating indicator indicatesa gate leakage of said integrated circuit.
 8. A method as described inclaim 5 wherein said dynamic operating indicator indicates a behavior ofone type of device selected from the set of NMOS devices and PMOSdevices of said integrated circuit.
 9. A method as described in claim 1wherein said predetermined value is a function.
 10. A microprocessorcomprising: a plurality of dynamic operating indicators for indicatingoperating conditions of said microprocessor; a first computer usablemedia comprising a predetermined value for at least one of saidplurality of dynamic operating indicators, wherein said predeterminedvalue is frequency specific and corresponds to a desired operatingfrequency value; a second computer usable media comprising computerusable instructions which when executed on said microprocessor implementa method comprising: accessing said predetermined value from said firstcomputer usable media; obtaining a measured record of at least onedynamic operation indicator; and adjusting said operating voltage tosaid microprocessor until said measured record is near saidpredetermined value for said at least one of said plurality of dynamicoperating indicators.
 11. A computer system as described in claim 10wherein said first computer usable media comprises a plurality ofrecords each comprising a predetermined value specific for a differentoperating frequency.
 12. A microprocessor as described in claim 10operable at a variety of voltages and frequencies.
 13. A microprocessoras described in claim 10 operable to accept a variable voltage supply.14. A microprocessor as described in claim 10 comprising a ringoscillator for measuring said at least one current dynamic operatingindicator.
 15. A computer system comprising: a microprocessor comprisinga plurality of dynamic operating indicators for indicating operatingconditions of said microprocessor; a variable voltage supply to providean operating voltage to said microprocessor; a first computer usablemedia coupled to said microprocessor and comprising a frequency specificpredetermined value for at least one of said plurality of dynamicoperating indicators; a second computer usable media coupled to saidmicroprocessor and comprising computer usable instructions which whenexecuted on said microprocessor implement a method, said methodcomprising: operating said microprocessor at a specific operatingfrequency; accessing said predetermined value from said first computerusable media; and adjusting said operating voltage to saidmicroprocessor to achieve said predetermined value for said at least oneof said plurality of dynamic operating indicators, wherein said at leastone of said plurality of dynamic operating indicators is specific tosaid specific operating frequency.
 16. A computer system as described inclaim 15 wherein said first computer usable media comprises a pluralityof records each comprising a predetermined value specific for adifferent operating frequency.
 17. A system as described in claim 15wherein said microprocessor comprises at least one of said plurality ofdynamic operating indicators.
 18. A computer usable memory comprising: afirst set of dynamic operating indicator values corresponding to a firstdesired power condition of a microprocessor operating at a firstoperating frequency; and a second set of dynamic operating indicatorvalues corresponding to a second desired power condition of amicroprocessor operating at a second operating frequency.
 19. A computerusable memory according to claim 18 wherein said first desired powercondition is minimum power operation of said microprocessor at saidfirst operating frequency.
 20. A computer usable memory according toclaim 19 wherein said second desired power condition is minimum poweroperation of said microprocessor at said second operating frequency. 21.A computer usable memory according to claim 18 wherein said first set ofdynamic operating indicator values corresponds to a plurality of dynamicoperating indicators in a microprocessor.
 22. A computer usable memoryaccording to claim 21 wherein at least one dynamic operating indicatorvalue of said first set of dynamic operating indicator valuescorresponds to a dynamic operating indicator of said microprocessor thatindicates a gate delay of said microprocessor.
 23. A computer usablememory according to claim 21 wherein at least one dynamic operatingindicator value of said first set of dynamic operating indicator valuescorresponds to a dynamic operating indicator of said microprocessor thatindicates an off current of said microprocessor.
 24. A computer usablememory according to claim 21 wherein at least one dynamic operatingindicator value of said first set of dynamic operating indicator valuescorresponds to a dynamic operating indicator of said microprocessor thatindicates a gate leakage of said microprocessor.
 25. A computer usablememory according to claim 21 wherein at least one dynamic operatingindicator value of said first set of dynamic operating indicator valuescorresponds to a dynamic operating indicator of said microprocessor thatindicates a behavior of one type of device selected from the set of NMOSdevices and PMOS devices of said microprocessor.
 26. A system foroperating an integrated circuit at a specific operating frequency, saidsystem comprising: circuitry for measuring a current dynamic operationindicator of said integrated circuit; and a feedback loop coupled tosaid circuitry, said feedback loop for optimizing a function of aplurality of dynamic operating indicators of said integrated circuittoward a predetermined value of said function by controlling a pluralityof controllable inputs to said integrated circuit, wherein saidpredetermined value is specific for said specific operating frequency.